36 thoughts on “Barin Field, Foley Alabama”

We live near Barin Field and were poking around the area recently. The area immediately north of where the four hangars were located appears to have been the site of development in the past — paved streets, curbs, sidewalks, and remains of concrete foundations.
Was there Navy housing there during WW2 (Barracks, etc) ? We have tried to find pictures but have been unsuccessful — do you know where pictures might be seen ? We would also be interested to know the extent of any development that might have been there.
Thanking you in advance —

Regarding the housing at Barin Field, yes for enlisted men there were typical two story open barracks with double bunkerbeds and lockers. These barracks would hold around 200 men. At the time I was there in 1958 there were approximately 1500 men stationed at Barin. It was an Auxilliary Air Station serving the flight training in Pensacola. Thanks for looking and your comment.

I happened upon your website searching for written and pictorial history of Barin Field. I noticed, in one of your postings, you were there in 1958. My father and his brother were there in 1958 as well. My father was Tom Hurt and his brothers name is Dwight. Can you direct me to any enlisted rosters, photos of Barin Field and the enlisted personnel for that time period?

I have the 1958 Barin Field year book, but can’t find anyone named Hurt. I was one of the last ones at the base and was moving things to Pensacola. Before closing there was about 1500 including civilians working there. If you can’t find a copy of this I would loan you mine. Jim call 906 988 2301

I was there from May 1952 until discharged in April 1953….I was an Aerographers Mate AG 2….Many fatalities they were flying F- 8’s which I think was too much for cadets Trainees from other countries there as well Gulf Shores had one small bar and a few houses on the beach I had good memories of the Field and area I went on to Penn State Univ on Gi Bill and eventually became Sr VP Emery Air Freight Corp.
Am 81 now …I was at NAS Trinidad and on USS Midway CV 41 during Korean War.

Nice to hear from you. I was just an Airman AG Sticker while at Barin, but later in my four year Navy Tour rose to AG2 as well. Thoroughly enjoyed my Navy time and nearly shipped over, but changed my mind at the last minute. I later entered Law Enforcement and became Police Chief. I enjoyed that career as well. Regarding bloody Barin, that name stuck with the base after you left and I watched a young German student crash and burn into the woods just south of the runways. There were numerous other fatal crashes I didn’t witness.
Thanks for your comments.

I was stationed at barin field from 1956 to 1958, that was a good place to be at that time. Foley was a one horse town small and gulf shores beaches were wide open then. The Hang out was at the beach about the only thing there. I came down here from Dayton ohio, married a Mobile girl and been here for ever.. went on USS Randouph air craft carrier in 1958 for 2 years then back to Mobile AL….

A little in common Delbert. I was at Barin in the crash crew at that time also, came from Arcanum Ohio, about 28 miles NW of Dayton, married a girl from Atmore Al. Now live in Jackson Ms. Plan on being in Foley on the 2nd and 3rd of Nov. then on to Pensacola Beach. Meet me for a drink at the Elberta VFW. It is a very friendly and nice place.

I was in the US Marine Corps from 1945-1949. I went on maneuvers out of Cherry Point, NC, in 1948 to Barin Field, Alabama. I was in telephone communications and practiced installing telephone lines on the base. On one practice I was about 35 feet up a pole, stringing line, when the wire that was unwinding from a truck got caught. Instead of coming off the reel it jerked the wire, and a rotten pin holding the insulator broke causing a live wire carrying 480 volts swung into me. When my hand hit the line, my other hand instinctively went to the ground wire and I became a perfect conductor. I managed to unhook my belt, drop the wires and drop to the ground, landing on my back. I remember my vision slowly narrowing as I fell. The impact must have woke me up because I remember seeing my heart beating through my shirt. I conquered my fear by climbing the next pole after I got my breath. I am lucky to be alive but I still am and will be 87 my next birthday.

I was at Barin during the same time. I’m not sure where the tire shop was located, but I was in the Weather Service, which was part of the Aviation Operations Division. The weather office was on the second floor of the hanger that the control tower was part of. Thanks for your interest.

I was stationed at Barin field from February 1958 until it closed. I was on the working end of the shovel that buried the base name plate at the end. It was the ideal base to be stationed on and was sorry to see it close. I ended up at Saufley field and commuted to Brunson field to work. We had a line of T28’s that were use for training students in touch and go landings. Transferred to Barbers Point, Hawaii to the AEW squadron in March 1960. Enjoyed that also. Great to find and read these coments.

It appears you and I were at Barin at the same time. I too was part of the decommissioning crew, then transferred over to Mainside at Pennsacola. Enjoyed duty at both air bases, then on to sea duty for two years.

I came straight out of “A” school up in Millington, Tn. I put in for sea duty also but since I was an AMS I could have only served on a carrier and that didn’t come thru so my sea duty was Hawaii. Wasn’t to tough out there. Even spent 62 days on Temp. duty out on Midway Island. Again thanks for putting this together. Oh I live in Seattle since I got out. Spent 35 1/2 years in law enforcement and retired in 1999.

Anyone interested in a reunion of Barin Field please contact me. I plan on putting one together next year. Would be nice if it were at Foley but we can have it anywhere and anytime of the year. Don Wetzel, phone is 601-506-6128 or email me at utredsfan@yahoo.com

I was stationed at Saufley in VT-5 from 1969 -71 as an AE3 and traveled to Barin daily, drove the bus until I got my bus licence pulled for speeding through Elberta. We flew T-28C’s. Lots of good times then. Retired from the USN in 1991 as an AECS.

1977 was going through flight training at VT3 NAS Whiting Fld. We used OLF Barin for pattern work. The east complex had 3 runways (now 2) and the west complex was closed. The original buildings/hangars were gone.

Was at Barin from 1955 to 1957 then went aboard the Wasp CVS18 in VS-33.
Worked the control tower on East Field and sometimes activated the tower on West Field. Worked and lived at the only bar on the beach, the Sandbar at Gulf Shores. Still have pictures of the ramp and hangers filled with SNJ’s. Had just started getting the “Maytags” (T-28s), so named because they sounded like washing machines. Can’t count the number of crashes I saw and one I was almost in.
Might be interested in your reunion.
Bob Hall

Rex Shaner and myself are planning a Barin Field Reunion for the last week in October this year. Exact date and Motel not yet set. We are going to meet in Foley in May and then have all the details. In the meantime anyone interested in attending I would like to know as to plan for the Motel, the more the better rate we will have. Just drop me a line on email even if your just a little interested. Lets have a good crowd and fun. Rex and I have some ideas in plan.

After boot camp at Camp Peary, Williamsburg, VA I attended the five week Ammo Handling School on base – not my choice. (There was a sizable number of German POWs on base then.) After Ammo School, I was assigned to the NavBks, NAD Earl, NJ from 5-12-46 to 6-7-46. I knew Ammo Handling was not for me. I saw a notice on NAD Earl bulletin board requesting volunteers for NAS Pensacola – I immediately volunteered. I spent about a month at NAS Pensacola, assigned to the Clothing Sales Store. I was then assigned to the Clothing Sales Store at Barin Field, AL from 6-14-46 until 3-31-47, when I was selected for assignment aboard the USS Neches (AO-47), then dry docked at T.I. San Pedro, CA.

My late wife (from Red Bay, AL) and I visited what was left of Barin Field in 1992. We met a very nice Navy Fireman who graciously escorted us to the area where the barracks had been located – nothing left but some chimneys, a once beautiful pool, filled with debris, and the remains of a few concrete foundations in the area then covered with pine trees.

Re: Barin Field Reunion – I would like to attend, but I already have reservations for Hawaii beginning 25 October.